Dispensing apparatus.



R. P. WILTON.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 9,1913.

1, 1 02,377. Patented July '7, 1914.

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lmvawl oz Fain/z P102352) R. P. WILTON.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1913.

P a E a Romy THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTOLITHOH 'ASHING'IDNh D4 Cv UFFTCE.

RALPH I. WILTON, WRIGHTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1914.

Application filed January 9, 1913. Serial No. 741,006.

1 '0 all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH P. VILTON, a

citizen of the United'States, residing at iVrightsville, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for holding and dispensing articles of various kinds, particularly drinking straws such as are used at soda fountains; and has for its object to provide a closed ornamental receptacle for holding the straws in upright position away from dust and the contaminating touch of persons desiring to use a straw.

The apparatus is fitted with a simple device operated by the fingers for selecting individual straws from the bulk of st 'aws contained in the apparatus and presenting them,

one at a time, before a suitable opening in the receptacle where the straw may be grasped by the fingers and withdrawn for use.

The apparatus is simple in construction, ornamental, and occupies but little space; it can be placed on a counter, table or wherever most convenient for persons wishing straws.

The container carrying the dispensing device is mounted to rotate on a fixed base preferably on ball bearings, so that theopening through which the straws are drawn may be turned without effort in any direction.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts here inafter described andpointed out in the appended cla1ms,1reference being had to the accolnpanylng drawings, 1n wh1ch- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig.2 is a vertical central sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-43 of Fig. 2. Fig. a is a cross-sectional view on the line 4 -4: of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the dispensing member. Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts in all the figures, 10 designates the base,-here shown in the form of a circular plate having socketed bosses on its underside in which are fitted feet 11 preferably made of rubber upon which the apparatus is supported. On the upper face ofthe base 10 is a slightly elevated ring 12 concentric with the axis ofthe apparatus.

the base and serving as a race for a series of balls 13 carried in a cage 14;, said balls serving as a bearing for the circular bottom 15 of the container 10. The bottom 15 of the container is connected to thcbase 10 by a pivot screwkl'? passingthrough an axial opening in said'bottom and threaded into the base 10. Around the screw pivot 17 the contamer 16 may rotate freely 011 the ball-bear- 111,2 as is evident. The bottom 15 is provided with an outwardly and downwardly flaring skirt 18 which projects over the outer edge of the base 10 and covers the ball hearing.

The bottom of the container is made with an annular groove 15 on its upper side into which is seated the cylindrical body 20 of the container 16, made preferably of glass through which may be soon the articles to be dispensed. The top surface 19 of the bot tom 15withiu the annular groove 15, inclines downwardly from all sides toward the center of the container, like a flattened inverted cone, the top of the pivot screw 17 being also preferably depressed in like manner 20 of the container is acrown piece 21 connected to the bottom 15 by means of rods 22 outside the body 20 extending from said bottom to a flange 23 on the crown piece.

Above the flange 23 the crown piece is made with a cylindrical band 24 concentric with the body 20 from which band 24: rises an outwardly flaring portion 25 terminating at its upper end with a cylindrlcal flange 26. I Fitted over the flange 26 is an inwardly converging annular top piece 27 here shown as connected to the flange 26 by screws 28 passing through said flange and into downwardlyextending lugs 29 on the top piece. The top piece 27 has a central opening through which articles to be dispensed are introduced into the container 16, said opening being closed by a cover 30 of saucer-like shape which serves as a receptacle for change, tickets or other articles.

In one side of the crown piece 2]. is made an opening 31 sufficiently large to permit the thumb and finger being inserted therein to graspone of the articles contained within Within the opening is a shield 32 screwed or otherwise secured to the flange 26 and depending therefrom, said shield extending laterally beyond the 0pening sufficiently far to prevent the fingers be ing inserted within the crown piece and grasping or touching the bulk of the articles therein.

Within the crown piece 21 at thewjunction of the cylindrical band'24; and the flaring portion 25 is formed a horizontal shoulder83 means of which the shaft and pinion may be rotated by the fingers. The inner periphery of the dispensing member 34 is provided with a number or notches 40;into -which. the articles to be dispensed drop and are carried around in front of the shield 32 opposite the opening 31 where said articles may be seized by the fingers and withdrawn from the apparatus. The shield32 has a general inclination inward from its top to, its lower edge, which edge lies just above the,dis pensing member .34, softhat it is impossible for the fingers or an implement of any kind to be introduced between these parts. A tongue 4:1 projects inwardly from the dispensing member34 and rotates with it,'.said tongue serving to keep the articles within the apparatus stirred up, so as to insure their falling into the notches 40, and also to prevent said articles lodging behind the shield 32 and remaining in this position.

The bottom of the container 16 upon which the articles to be dispensed rest, is inclined from all sides toward the center as at 19'. By thus forming the bottom 15, the lower ends of the articles are caused to gravitate or gather in the center of the container which tends to prevent the upper ends of such articles as have entered the notches 40 in the dispensing member-fromescaping or being withdrawn therefrom' as said member is rotated, particularly when the, apparatus contains but a few articles.

Thense of the device, is apparent. --It is placed on a table, counter or other convenient position, and filled by; removing the cover 30 and placing therein in vertical positiomor on end, the articles to be dispensed. The cover is then replaced. ,Now, when anarticle is desired, the container is rotated by alight touchuntil the opening 31 is. opposite the person wishing oneof the articles therein. Then by grasping the knob and turning it in the direction indicated ,by, the arrow thereon, the pinion 86 isrotated, which in turn revolves the dispensing member 3%, the turning of the knob being continued'until one of the 'articlesvdesired, having entered a notch 410, is brought in front of the shield and opposite the opening by the rotation of the dispensing member in position to be grasped by the thumb and-finger, and withdrawn from the apparatus The apparatus is simple, neat and sanitary, the articles contained within the same being protected from dust and promiscuous handling. By means of the dispensing member, but a single article is presented at the opening at one time, thus prevent-' ing waste and extravagant 'use of the articles when the same are gratuitously distributed as in the case of drinking straws. Should the article not be removed when presented, further rotation of the disperning member will carry the article back into the container tobe again presented on the next rotation. A plurality of notches tOare made in the dispensing member 34 so that but. a slight turn ofthe .knob 39 is necessary to bring an article opposite the opening.

xiVhat I claim is,

, 1.,An apparatus comprising a container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, said container having an opening in its side through which said articles may be withdrawn, a revoluble dispensing member within the container to. select articles singly .from the bulk anddeliver them in order opposite said opening, agear ring on said dispensing member, a gear wheel carried by a shaft journaled ,on the container, and a finger piece on the shaft without the con- .tainer for rotating the dispensing member.

2. An apparatus comprising an upright container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, a stationary base on which piece forming a part of saidcontainer having an open top provided with aremovable ,cover through which the container, is charged and anopening inits side through which articles may be withdrawn from the container, ,revoluble dispensing vmember within thecontainer to select articles singly from the bulk and deliver them in order opposite said opening, and manually operated gearing; for. intermittently rotating said dispensing member. i

3. An apparatus ;comprising an upright containerifor holding in loosebulk articles to be dispensed, a stationary base on-which said container is rotatably mounted, ball bearingsbetween the container and the base, a .revoluble dispensing member within the container to select articles singly from :the bulk and deliver them in .order opposite an opening ,in the side of said container, a gear ring on ,themlispensing member, a shaftj ournaled in the container, a gear wheelcarried by said shaft for rotatingsaid gear ring and the dispensing member, and. afinger piece on theouter end of the shaft for intermittently rotating, the dispensing, member. t. An apparatus comprising an upright container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, a crown piece forming a part of said container, and havinganopen- A ing in its side. through which said articles said container is rotatably mounted, a crown may be withdrawn, a horizontal supporting shoulder Within said crown piece, an annular dispensing member revolubly supported on said shoulder and formed with notches in its inner periphery to select articles singly from the bulk and deliver them in order opposite said opening, a horizontal tongue projecting inwardly from the dispensing member for stirring said articles, and a gear ring on its under side, a shaft journalcd in said crown piece, a gear wheel on said shaft meshing with the gear ring, and a manually operated finger piece on the exterior end of the shaft for rotating the dispensing member.

5. In a dispensing apparatus, a dispensing member therefor, comprising a substantially flat ring formed with a bearing surface and a circular row of teeth on its underside, and a plurality of spaced notches in its inner periphery for selecting singly articles to be dispensed, and an inwardly projecting tongue for stirring said articles.

6. An apparatus comprising a container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, said container having a bottom inclined downwardly from all sides toward the center, and an opening in its side near the top through which said articles may be withdrawn, and a revoluble dispensing member within the container to select articles singly from the bulk and deliver them in order opposite said openin 7.An apparatus comprising a container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, a revoluble dispensing member within the container to select articles singly from the bulk and deliver them in order opposite an opening in the side of the container, said container having a centrally depressed bottom for causing the lower ends of the articles to gather about said center as they are rotated by the dispensing member.

8. Dispensing apparatus comprising a container for holding in loose bulk articles to be dispensed, said container having a delivery opening in its side wall; a rcvoluble dispensing member to select articles singly from the bulk and deliver them to said opening for withdrawal; means for revolving sald dispensingmember, and a depending guard plate to prevent access to the bulk through said openlng, said guard plate being spaced from said opening and having a recessed face to permit the article to be readbetween said finger piece and said dispens ing member whereby said dispensing member may be rotated at will.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH P. WVILTON.

l/Vitnessss An'rnnn L. BRYANT, A. V. OUSHMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

